Students of Whitsunday Anglican School celebrated the last day of their schooling career last week with a special day ceremony to commemorate their achievements and a 'Walk of Honour’ to highlight their success.

The assembly, led by Year 12 school captains reflected on the years of learning, love, and laughter within the graduating class of 2023.

Students from each faction—Trinity, Barnabas, Charles and Ambrose—were presented on stage, with Charles earning the title of Champion House.

Whitsunday Anglican School united the year groups from Kindergarten to Year 11, with students forming a guard of honour for the Year 12’s as they made their final walk through the school gates.

The occasion held sentimental value for both students and parents, an emotional moment to celebrate the transition to the next phase of life.

To bid farewell, the Year 12 graduates participated in a hat toss—a symbolic gesture to mark the end of a significant school year.

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The Year 12 graduating class of 2023 during the hat toss

Students lined the pathways and graduates hug it out on their final day of school

Year 12 Captains and staff address the school assembly  

Photo credit: Sinead Porter

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Kevin Hewitt, better known on the bowling green as ‘Kev’, has played 97 test matches for Queensland.

He grew up on a dairy farm with his two brothers and parents, Harvey and Phillis Hewitt, who were well-known for delivering milk to local cafés around Mackay. When Kev’s parents unfortunately passed during his teen years, the farm was converted to cane.

Kev began to play lawn bowls in his free time at the age of twenty-one and found a love for the sport. He started competing at twenty-four, teaming up with his Uncle Alan Sommers around this time.

At age twenty-seven, he entered the Single State Championships. Kev’s first big win was the Easter Pairs and the Vickers Cup of Open Pairs in 1975.

Kevin was only the fourth player in seventy-two years to win the coveted State Singles title twice, both in 1976 and 1977, with his name going down as one of the greats.

Kev also won in the following two years, first the State Pairs in 1978, and the State Fours in 1979.

He teamed with his Uncle Alan once more in 1978, winning the State Pairs Champions. Subsequently qualifying to represent Queensland to play in the Australian Champion of Champions, where they went on to win the Pairs.

Kev won the State Fours Champions in 1979. The same year, he was invited to play in Newcastle to contest one of the first televised bowls tournaments, the NDBA-NBN TV All Stars Bowls Tournament with international players.

He also won the Whitsunday Singles Championships five times, the Whitsunday Pairs Championships five times and Whitsunday Fours Championships at least four times.

He was well-known as the most impressive of any player since World War II and was regarded for International Honours as an Australian representative, where he won numerous Mackay District Championships over many years.

In 1982, Kev won the Penfold Mazda Invitation Singles Bowls Classic Final with a score of 31-28 in Victoria, where it took nearly seven and a half hours in two games to see him win the Classic Singles Bowls Tournament.

The same year, Kev won another intrastate badge. Between 1972 to 1979, the Mackay District won the State District Sides Championships five times, with Kev and Pat Herlihy as the only Mackay players to have won five championships.

Kev got the chance to celebrate his eightieth birthday at Mackay Bowls Club last week with a group of his close family as well as bowling buddies from over the decades.

It was an emotional night of reminiscing for Kev, looking back on his monumental sporting achievements, as well as his personal accomplishments.

A true icon in Mackay's sporting realm and a revered figure within the lawn bowling community.

By Sinead Porter

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Kevin Hewitt and his bowls buddies. (L-R) Bruce Bridger, Col Bovis, Barry Paskins, Jack Mundy, Lyn Tait, John Potter, Kevin Hewitt, Glen Francey, Trevor Dutton, Ted Gill, Col Tait and Pat Deagan

Lawn bowling legend, Kevin Hewitt in his early days with the Royal Queensland Bowls Association

Kev's extensive collection of winning badges

Greetings from the enchanting landscapes of Aotearoa! Taking a breather here in my homeland has been nothing short of a soul-soothing adventure—a reminder of the therapeutic powers of switching off and embracing the Kiwi way of life.

Our journey began with a scenic flight into Queenstown, before driving the scenic winding roads to mid Canterbury. Living in the shadows of these awe-inspiring mountains, you can't help but feel like a hobbit in a Lord of the Rings sequel. It reminded me that in New Zealand, nature doesn't just knock at your door; it struts in with a dramatic entrance.

Sure, we passed some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, Lakes Ruataniwha, Wanaka, Pukaki, and Tekapo—each one a masterpiece in its own right. But let's get to the real highlight: a pilgrimage to the "best pie shop in the world," the Fairlie Bakehouse, before closing time. Word of advice: try the pork belly and apple sauce pie—it's a flavour explosion that should come with a warning label.

For tourists, Queenstown might be the headliner, but for me, the real magic of New Zealand lies in the everyday charm that's sprinkled all over the country. The local fish and chip shop, where my love story began, was like a beacon of comfort in a sea of adventure when I saw it still stood.

But, amidst the jaw-dropping scenery, it's the little joys that make a holiday home truly special. As my nieces and nephews enthusiastically show our 7-month-old son the ropes of Kiwi life, starting with befriending newborn lambs, I'm reminded that slowing down and savouring the quirky moments is the real treasure of life.

As Christmas approaches which can be a stressful time for many, it’s a reminder that the little moments matter the most.

Amanda

Brenda-Lee McDougal has worked tirelessly for over twenty years in a labour of love to recognise orphans and abandoned children who have been lost in the foster care system.

Brenda-Lee’s husband Scott sent an email to the Jay and Dave Breakfast Show, hosted by the Triple M Mackay radio station to acknowledge his wife’s efforts in installing a memorial park bench at Royal Sands Park.

Scott stated, “I think she deserves some recognition as she has done this good deed and fought tooth and nail”.

“She still works hard to help out underprivileged and homeless people in our region.”

Brenda-Lee joined the Jay and Dave Breakfast Show to comment on her project.

Brenda-Lee stated, “Previously I was in Ayr, I was placed into care when I was eight years old.

“Unfortunately, I ended up in some bad places, and then I ended up in some really good places, that made me who I am today.”

Brenda-Lee has been fighting to grant awareness of foster children who are lost in the system, more specifically in regards to a foster home that was located in Bucasia.

She hopes to shed light on some failing institutions and get them banned for good, commenting that some ‘have eighteen to one room’.

The bench and plaque dedicated to Brenda-Lee’s mission resides at Royal Sands Park, and she hopes that people can ‘sit down, see the plaque, self-reflect and think about others that are less fortunate.’

Kudos to Brenda-Lee for shedding light on an important issue and fostering a strong voice in our community for children who have been forgotten.

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Brenda-Lee sits on the newly-established bench at Royal Sands Park

Photo credit: Triple M Mackay

A multi-million-dollar specialist training facility for heavy automotive trades at the CQUniversity Mackay Ooralea campus is expected to be operational by Term 2, 2024.

The 1,610 sqm site will include workshop space, teaching areas, staff spaces and specialist equipment including an air brake simulator, hydraulic training stations, transmission training simulators, diesel engine benches and an air suspension training stand for trucks.

The facility will also enable the University to almost triple its student capacity in the trade discipline from 140 to more than 400 students.

CQUniversity will deliver heavy automotive trade courses including Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Diesel Fitting), Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology and Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology, in full within the Mackay region.

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the new facility will contribute to the regional economy and allow the public training provider, CQU, to continue changing lives and supporting communities and industry through skills-based training.

“By boosting training capacity, the redeveloped trade training centre will supply a pipeline of qualified heavy automotive professionals, crucial to keeping the region’s industries running,” she said.

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said the new facility is an important addition for Mackay and its future workforce.

“Once the upgrade is completed, final year apprentices will no longer have to travel for up to four hours to Rockhampton or Emerald to complete required training blocks, saving them time and money.

“It will provide heavy automotive trade apprentices with a purpose-built training space, plus more than $2.4 million worth of the latest industry-related tools, resources and technology and help cater for an average year-on-year student growth of 15 per cent in the heavy automotive discipline over the past five years in the Mackay region.”

Peter Heilbuth, Deputy Vice-President, VET and Business Development at CQUniversity said the development of this facility is much needed in the region as local industry and the community rely heavily on skilled trade professionals to keep the economy and key industries running.

“The facility will deliver apprentices and trainees world-class facilities and equipment to ensure they get the most out of their training experience. This better prepares them for their future careers and the needs and expectations of industry. This will also have a positive impact on their employers as apprentices will be trained using the latest resources and technology,” he said.

“We are thankful to the Queensland Government for their support of CQUniversity and skills training in the CQ region.”

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L-R: CQU Associate Dean for the School of Trades Rob Buttery, CQU Associate Vice-President of the North Queensland Region Rob Brown, Local MP The Hon Julieanne Gilbert and CQU Deputy Vice-President of Vocational Education and Training Peter Heilbuth. Photo credit: Bill Jewell. Source: CQU

For Immediate Patient Care Solutions

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The closure of the helipad at Mackay Base Hospital for three years presents significant challenges for the region’s rescuers and a potential risk to patient care.

The $250 million upgrade of the hospital commencing in January 2024. which includes a new roof-top helipad was very welcomed but was a huge concern for RACQ CQ Rescue which would be unable to land onsite in Mackay to transfer patients.

“Conducting patient transfers at the Mackay Airport was “unacceptable” and would place considerable strain on an already stretched Queensland Ambulance Service, as well as blow out hospital transfer times. It could also be potentially very detrimental to patient care outcomes,” RACQ CQ Rescue CEO Tim Healee said.

The community-funded rescue service was strongly advocating for an alternative temporary helipad to be constructed on site at the hospital and had the full support of corporate supporters, including many heavy weights from the state’s mining industry.

“To be unable to take a critically ill patient directly to the Mackay Base Hospital is just not an acceptable situation, considering we are talking a three-year period here,” Mr Healee said.

“Conducting a patient handover to ambulance crews at the Mackay Airport will also significantly increase the time it takes to get a patient to the hospital and places additional pressure on Queensland Ambulance Service crews,” he said.

“We have been attempting to engage with various stakeholders including the Mackay base Hospital on this issue for quite some time now, but at this stage there is still yet to be an acceptable outcome.”

An urgent and combined effort between multiple stakeholders, including Queensland Health, the State Government and Mackay Regional Council, was needed to reach an agreement.

“At the end of the day, our lifesaving service relies heavily on community support and we are doing our very best to advocate for our patients and prioritise their care in this region,” Mr Healee said.

“I hope that all stakeholders can come together urgently and agree on a better solution for the safe transfer and treatment of our ill and injured in Central Queensland.”

Amanda Camm MP, Member for Whitsunday said she supports RACQ CQ Rescue Service in calling on the State Government to give a commitment to the people of the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions that the helipad at the Mackay Base Hospital will remain operational during the hospital’s redevelopment period over the next three years.

“The decision to close the helipad has been made with no community consultation, with no consultation from key stakeholders or emergency personnel,” Ms Camm added.

“In emergency situations minutes and seconds count. It is essential for our rescue services to be able to land within close proximity to the emergency care at the hospital. Having to land at the Mackay Airport and have patients transported to the hospital by Queensland ambulance is unacceptable and will risk lives.

“I’m calling on the Minister to work with the Mackay Hospital Health Service and the local community and local experts to find an acceptable solution which will ensure the helicopter can land within close proximity to the hospital during the renovation period.

“Our community pours significant funding into the CQ Rescue Service every year and they deserve to have it operating at full capacity, giving them the best chance in an emergency,” Ms Camm said.

“In a region where we have experienced road accidents, shark attacks, mining and farming accidents, lives have been saved because our rescue helicopter has been able to land in close proximity to the hospital.

“We cannot afford to risk losing this service for the next three years”.

In a statement issued on Facebook, Mackay Hospital and Health Service said that the helicopter landings at Mackay Base Hospital have temporarily relocated to the Mackay airport “at the request of CQ Rescue and Babcock Aviation”.

“This is due to their concern with early site works associated with the expansion of the hospital,” the statement read.

“CQ Rescue has conducted a risk assessment, and we are working with them to have landings restored to the Base Hospital for an interim period.”

The statement mentions that the $250 million Mackay Base Hospital expansion project includes provision for a new permanent onsite helipad.

“This expansion will deliver an additional 128 beds which are expected to come online in mid 2026,” the statement continued.

“These new beds are urgently needed to help support the growing healthcare needs of the region.

“The current helipad is adjacent to the construction site and cannot remain in use during the construction period.

“Mackay HHS has engaged an external aviation consultant to assess all options for helicopter landings during the construction period from 2024 - 2026. Once this advice is received, we will be in a position to make a fully informed decision on the best outcome for our community.

“The aviation consultant has engaged with stakeholders such as Queensland Ambulance Service, CQ Rescue and Retrieval Services Queensland (who coordinate the movements of patients between hospital facilities).

“We reassure the community that the safety of patients and the helicopter crews will be the top consideration as we identify helicopter landing site options.”

To date, RACQ CQ Rescue has completed 629 missions this year. By the end of the year, this completed missions figure will far surpass the services’ second busiest year on record of 630 missions in 2022.

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RACQ CQ Rescue says the closure of the helipad at Mackay Base Hospital for three years presents significant challenges for the region’s rescuers and a potential risk to patient care. Photo credit: RACQ CQ Rescue

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm says it is unacceptable to not be able to land onsite at Mackay Base Hospital due to hospital redevelopment as proposed for the next three years. Photo credit: Office of Amanda Camm MP

Last week, Mackay RSL observed Remembrance Day with a poignant pre-game service at Harrup Park before the WBBL game. This moment was not just about sports; it encapsulated the community's dedication to honouring the historical significance of November 11th.

Remembrance Day, originally marking the end of World War I, now stands as a global tribute to the sacrifices made by millions in various conflicts. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month remains a universal moment of silence, a sombre acknowledgment of the estimated 9 to 13 million lives lost during World War I and countless more in subsequent conflicts.

On November 11, 1918, the guns of the Western Front finally fell silent, bringing an end to over four years of relentless warfare. This poignant moment, marked by the signing of the armistice, symbolizes the hope for lasting peace after a conflict that mobilized more than 70 million people.

The legacy of Remembrance Day extends beyond historical events; it serves as a reminder of the enduring commitment to peace and a tribute to the spirit that rises from the ashes of conflict. Lest we forget, we honour and remember those who gave their all so that others might live in a world free from the shadows of war.

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Padre Jim Brown, President Ken Higgins OAM, Nichole Hood Secretary and Les Palmer President of Legacy and Veteran Support Group after they have laid their respective wreaths

WWII New Guinea Veteran, 99-year-old Kevin Doyle being presented with his dedication of Service by President Ken Higgins OAM

RSL members during the pre-game service at the WBBL at Harrup Park. Photos supplied by Mackay RSL

Long term Carlyle Gardens resident and World War II veteran Geoff Fielder recently passed away several months before his 100th birthday.

Geoff was born in London in February 1924 and joined the British Royal Navy shortly after his 18th birthday in June 1942. He spent his time on the HMS Crane as an ordinary telegraphist. London had been extensively bombed in 1940/41 and Geoff had experienced this as a 16-year-old growing up in the region.

The HMS Crane which Geoff served on for over two years was a convoy defence vessel with excellent anti-submarine capability. Notable events involving the HMS Crane included assisting in the sinking of two enemy U boats in the North Atlantic and provided support for the Allied landings in Normandy.

Geoff was hosted by a Brisbane family during Christmas 1945 while the HMS Crane was undergoing a refit. He was called back to London in early 1946 but decided to return to Australia several years later having liked what he saw in Brisbane in late 1945.    

Geoff eventually settled in Mackay to begin work at the recently completed Bulk Sugar Terminal. He later married Lindy Lind, a member of the well-known Mcginn family and had two children.

In mid 2015, Geoff along with his family travelled to Brisbane to receive a Legion of Honour medal from the French Ambassador for recognition of assistance provided to France during World War II.

Vale Geoff Fielder.

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Geoff on his 99th birthday earlier this year

Geoff in uniform circa 1943/45

HMS Crane

Geoff at legion of honour medal presentation in 2015

Geoff at work on HMS Crane circa 1943/45 (closest to camera). Photos supplied

A “spirited adventure with a tropical vibe" is the promise the new Finch Hatton MTB brand will make to the world.

Finch Hatton MTB was officially launched today (November 13), in what is a significant step for Mackay Regional Council’s cornerstone mountain bike trails project.

The brand was developed by award-winning destination and marketing specialists Destination Marketing Store (DMS) and Swell Design Group.

The launch was held at the Finch Hatton RSL with about 80 stakeholders, members of the public and invited guests in attendance.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the brand and marketing strategy would bring our new mountain bike trails to life, not just here in the Mackay region but around the world.

“It’s fantastic to introduce the Finch Hatton MTB brand to the people of our region who have played a major role in its development,” Mayor Williamson said.

“This brand represents our region, and specifically the townships where it is based, in look and feel,” he said.

“It also represents what mountain biking is all about – fun, adventure and the great outdoors.”

Destination Marketing Store Director Carl Solomon said DMS and Swell undertook extensive research, consultation and engagement with the community, local businesses, industry experts and mountain bike riders to inform the brand strategy and creative design.

“We were incredibly impressed by the high level of engagement by the Mackay region throughout our comprehensive brand development process,” Mr Solomon said.

“The positive response received during consumer testing is testament to a stand-out brand, worthy of a world-class trail network and one that will resonate with the community as well as with mountain bike riders from near or afar,” he said.

Mayor Williamson said Finch Hatton MTB would put the Mackay region on the leisure and adventure tourism map.

“When fully operational our trails are estimated to generate an additional 31,000 new visitors, $18.1 million in visitor spending and more than 100 full-time equivalent jobs,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Stage one of the trails, set to open before Christmas, will include the Finch Hatton Trail Head site, a pump track and 13.5 kilometres of airflow trails in Finch Hatton,” he said.

“Stage two will be an 82-kilometre network that spans from Finch Hatton to Eungella with construction forecast to start in 2026.

“This is an exciting time for our region and another feather in our cap, making us one of the best places in the world to live and visit.”

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Carl Solomon, Destination Marketing Store (DMS) Director, Mayor Greg Williamson and Scott Kelley of Swell Design Group excited to introduce the Finch Hatton MTB brand to the region

Mackay Base Hospital doctor Pieter Nel was on a flight to New Zealand for a medical conference recently when he heard a call over the PA system: ‘’If there's a medical doctor on the plane, please press the call button’’.

“Then I saw a few people up front and somebody lying on the floor.”

With 37 years of experience in medicine, 23 of those in the Mackay Base Hospital Emergency Department, he was certainly the right person to step in.

“The person lying on the floor was not a good colour,” Dr Nel said.

“He was an elderly man and he was not looking responsive.

“So I went through the normal ‘ABCD’ (of emergency care).

“This was not a good situation. The person was not responding to verbal commands. He was unconscious and there was no radial pulse.

“I found out he had a lung problem and was carrying Ventolin, so we gave him oxygen and we got a strong pulse back, and he started talking to us.

“We were about an hour out of Auckland, so we got him in the front seat, and I sat with him to monitor him.

“It was a situation where, if we didn’t address it, he may have had a full-blown respiratory arrest.

“There were a few times I thought he was going to lose consciousness again.

“We were then a priority landing and there was an ambulance waiting, and I was able to hand over to them.”

This was not the first time Dr Nel has answered a call for help on a plane.

In 2009 he was on a flight to Singapore when a person in a seat just behind him had an unexpected seizure.

“That was when I learned about the processes airline staff follow as I wanted to resus this patient, but first they had to make a call to a medical command centre,” Dr Nel said.

“I couldn’t just go into action. The captain made the call and connected it through to me and I had to talk to the command centre in America.

“They make the decisions around priority landing, and in the case with the Singapore flight, we were still over Australia and the decision was whether we land in Darwin or we continue to Singapore.”

In the cases he has attended to, Dr Nell later received feedback that these passengers had recovered from their sky-high emergencies.

As medical incidents are not uncommon, Dr Nel has some sound advice for travellers, particularly those on longer flights.

“People don’t understand that your oxygen saturation will normally drop by 10% on a flight and even if they control the cabin pressure it still has an impact on your cardiovascular and respiratory system,” Dr Nel said.

“So for people with comorbidities (more than one medical condition), when you sit down in a plane; that’s when things can go wrong.

“That’s why it’s important for people who are not in a good healthy condition to go to their GP to get clearance to fly.”

By Mackay Hospital and Health Service

The township of Nebo has officially turned 100 years old, last Saturday November 11.

However, the history is a bit more interesting than a settlement 100 years ago. Originally named ‘Fort Copper’ in 1883, the settlement was nicknamed ‘Nebo’ by locals, and the two names existed together until 1923.

For a total of 40 years, the township operated under two names, and in 2023, Nebo is celebrating 140 years of settlement and 100 years of being named Nebo.

The area was initially explored and discovered by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845, who followed the Isaac River west, however it wasn’t until 1856 when William Landsborough named Nebo Creek and mountain Fort Copper.

He named the settlement Fort Cooper, however there was confusion as a nearby station was also called Fort Cooper, so many residents began naming the settlement Nebo.

In the early days, Nebo’s primary production was sheep, but this was soon replaced by cattle trade.

Equine trade is also a big part of Nebo history with many well-developed horses being bred and trained in Nebo.

Nebo Shire Council celebrated 100 years of the town’s settlement in 1983 and are now celebrating 100 years of Nebo.

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The Nebo Pub also celebrates 100 years, with Dale Last, Member for Burdekin checking out the party

Oxford Hotel, 1930

Nebo Racecourse, 1940

Nebo Post Office, 1930

Nebo General Store in 1915. Photos supplied

Bill Bruce

Monument of Nebo township, William Wallace Mervyn Bruce has passed away, aged 106 years old.

Born in Nebo, January 2, 1917, William, better known as Bill, lived the first part of his life in the clutches of the Fort Copper Hotel, his parents the licensees of the hotel. However, the family soon moved to a property outside of Nebo.

With two brothers and three sisters, Bill ran amok in Nebo and was often exploring the region’s outback.

In 1942, Bill enlisted into the war effort, initially the reserves, but was transferred into the Australian Army the following year.

He was sent to New Guinea as part of a support battalion, where he learned electrical engineering, however before long, he was promoted to leading technician.

In 1945, Bill was discharged from the Australian Military Forces and returned to Nebo.

Establishing himself as a contractor, he partnered with his brother, who had recently returned from the war effort as well.

From there, Bill has led an extensive life of service to the community. He was an active member of the Nebo RSL, was the secretary in 1960 and the president from 1987 until 2012. He was integral in organising Nebo ANZAC Day celebrations for more than 50 years.

His community service includes being a member of the Nebo Busman’s Council, the Nebo Jockey Club, a founding member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) Lodge, and even carried the Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Throughout Bill’s life, he not only witnessed history, but was pivotal in creating it.

William Bruce passed away at the age of 106 years old.

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William Wallace Mervyn Bruce has passed away, aged 106 years old

William Bruce lived a life of service

William Bruce and his brother. Photos supplied

Jenny Leeding, a teacher’s aide at Chelona State School has recently retired after demonstrating unwavering dedication and commitment as a valued member of staff for an impressive 48 years.

Jenny began her career as a Cleaner for Chelona State School in 1975.

In 1980, Principal Ken Stein arrived at the school, quickly acknowledging the passion Jenny had for the immaculate upkeep of the school. Ken offered her a host of opportunities to advance her career at Chelona, including giving her time to study and finish her Certificate III in Education.

This was a great achievement for Jenny, who never thought she would be capable of achieving this. It took her two years to complete the certificate course, which stands to this day as her greatest and most proud achievement.

A challenge for Jenny came along when she was appointed as the administration assistant, requiring her to take care of the school finances. With no previous experience, Jenny was still eagerly ready for the challenge.

In the early days, the finances were done in a ledger book by hand, later moving onto electronic systems. Her days became busily engrossed with early morning and late afternoon cleaning of the school, as well as alternating between her role as a teacher aide and administrator during the day.

Jenny has been involved in assisting every year level (besides Prep), with most classes at Chelona split into two grades. The idea of splitting each class into two groups allowed teachers to introduce new concepts, and for Jenny to aid in teaching the lessons.

Jenny had a passion for working with struggling students in the classroom and assisting them with anything they needed. Her greatest memory as a teacher aide was giving lessons on touch typing, with students leaving to high-school having mastered the skill.

Teachers of the high-schools would ask the students, ‘Who taught you how to type like that?’ and the students would respond: ‘Mrs Leeding.’ Sometimes she would meet students later in life, who would give her a big hug and express their gratitude for being taught to type.

Jenny’s greatest success story involving her students was of a mother and daughter duo, Nikki and Dekota, who both attended Chelona State School. Jenny taught them both how to read, and today, Nikki runs her own business and Dekota is an apprentice hairdresser. Jenny is very proud of how much they have achieved in life and is happy to have played a role in their learning journey.

Jenny lives by the quote, ‘Treat all people the same way you would like to be treated.’ A testament to her diligence and personable nature towards her students.

Chelona State School have honoured her with the ‘Jenny Leeding Sporting Trophy’, which is given out to students who have competed in higher levels of sport, not just at school.

Jenny has been welcomed to stay as long as she likes as a teacher aide at Chelona State School, however she plans to enjoy her retirement by going fishing with her husband and hopes to spend Christmas with her family and two great-grandchildren.

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Jenny (in pink) with one of her beloved classes

Jenny has devoted 49 years to Chelona State School

Photo credit: Sinead Porter

Sarina Neighbourhood Centre and Daly Bay have partnered together to ensure hundreds of Sarina school students have the necessities they require for school in 2024.

Throughout 2023, the Sarina District School Assistance Program supported 260 students from 40 families, providing financial assistance, through vouchers for school uniforms and essential booklist items.

Mayor Greg Williamson thanked Daly Bay for partnering on the project.

“Without the substantial financial contribution from Daly Bay, council’s Sarina Neighbourhood Centre team would only have been able to assist a fraction of these families,” Mayor Williamson said.

“It’s tremendous to see prominent local companies like Daly Bay step up to support their community,” he said.

Mayor Williamson said, unfortunately, the calls for assistance from this program had increased substantially from 2022.

“We’ve helped almost twice as many students as we did last year,” he said.

“While it’s great to be able to help, it’s also a clear indication that people are increasingly doing it tough, and the cost of living is straining household budgets more and more.”

Daly Bay CEO Steve Rae believes starting school with a full book list and a full school uniform has a significant impact on a child's experience and attitude towards their education.

“Daly Bay chose to support this program, to make sure local children don’t get left behind and have equal access to resources,” Mr Rae said.

“Daly Bay is really proud to be part of this program that aims to empower, inspire and transform lives within our community.”

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Mayor Greg Williamson and Steve Rae, CEO of Daly Bay, excited for the partnership. Photo supplied

A special luncheon was held this past week to mark the completion of 12 months of intensive work to improve our region’s obstetrics and gynaecology services, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) staff and leaders.

Mackay HHS Chief Executive Susan Gannon thanked the members of the Mackay Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) Implementation Working Group, who were tasked with ensuring the recommendations of the 2022 investigation into services were adopted.

“All the members of this working group have invested many hours considering recommendations, evaluating procedures and discussing how we can ultimately improve patient safety, because we want every woman’s experience with our health service to be a positive one,” Ms Gannon said.

“As a result of the group’s work over the past 12 months, there have been many changes within the O&G department at Mackay Base Hospital.

“These include increased staffing, improved procedures, more training, greater collaboration between doctors and midwives, and an overall improved culture within the department.”

The Mackay Hospital and Health Board (MHHB) acknowledged the considerable work achieved by the O&G Implementation Working Group at a special lunch.

MHHB deputy chair Kerry Maley said it was a tremendous effort by a small team of people.

“On behalf of all members of the hospital board, I want to acknowledge the great work of the doctors, midwives and HHS leaders as well as our consumer representatives for the work of the past 12 months,” Ms Maley said.

“Our work is not over, but it is fitting to pause and consider how much has been achieved in improving our obstetrics and gynaecology services.”

The Health Service Investigation report released in October 2022 made one hundred and twenty-two recommendations on O&G services.

One hundred and sixteen recommendations have been completed, two are underway and the final four will be achieved as part of the Mackay Hospital Expansion Project, which commences in January next year.

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Members of the Mackay Obstetrics and Gynaecology Implementation Working Group

Photo supplied